Research Projects
Computational and experimental investigation on the tumor microenvironment and its implication for immunotherapy and targeted therapy

Our work focuses on utilizing transcriptomics, genomics, and imaging data from clinical settings to identify and characterize new regulators in tumor progression, immune evasion, and therapy failures. In the first project, we leverage the vast amount of bulk, single-cell, and spatial transcriptomics and genomics datasets collected from multiple hospitals worldwide to predict tumor regulators and mechanisms. In the second project, we develop AI-based machine learning infrastructures for feature selection in imaging data, such as H&E staining and IHC staining, to understand characteristics related to treatment outcomes. Experimental validation using organoids and patient-derived mouse models will be extensively performed in these two projects once new and novel regulators and mechanisms are identified. Our deliverables are computational platforms enabling public and free data access from scientists and clinicians worldwide and new drugs/therapies translated from our basic science studies to real-world clinical practice. 

Dr L Gong, Department of Clinical Oncology

Dr. Lanqi Gong is a Research Assistant Professor at HKU focusing on experimental and computational cancer immunology. Dr. Gong was a T2I-endowed post-doc in Peng Jiang's lab at NCI/NIH from 2023-2025. Before that, Dr. Gong completed his Ph.D. as an HKPF awardee at HKU under the supervision of Prof. Xin-Yuan Guan, and his undergraduate and graduate studies as a University Honors Scholar at NYU under the BS/MS dual degree program with Prof. Weiqiang Chen. He is the recipient of the AACR Scholar-In-Training Award, the US Federal Technology Transfer Award, and the Best Ph.D. Thesis Prize in Genomic Science.

Biography
HKU Scholars Hub
Lab Homepage
ORCID
lqgong94@hku.hk

For more information or to express interest for this project, please email the supervisor or the specified contact point in the project description.  Interested candidates are advised to enclose with your email:

1. your CV,
2. a brief description of your research interest and experience, and
3. two reference letters (not required for HKUMed UG students seeking MRes[Med]/URIS projects).

Information on the research programme, funding support and admission documentations could be referenced online at the Research Postgraduate Admissions website. General admission enquiries should be directed to rpgmed@hku.hk.

HKUMed MBBS students interested in the Master of Research in Medicine (MRes[Med]) programme may visit the programme website for more information.  

HKUMed UG students interested in the Undergraduate Research Internship Scheme (URIS) may visit the scheme’s website for more information.